Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girlsis an Americancomedy dramatelevision series created byAmy Sherman-Palladino,starringLauren GrahamandAlexis Bledel.The show debuted October 5, 2000 onThe WBand became a flagship series for the network. The show ran for seven seasons, with the last being aired onThe CW,and ended on May 15, 2007.

Gilmore Girls
Genre	Comedy drama
Created by	Amy Sherman-Palladino
Starring	Lauren Graham Alexis Bledel Melissa McCarthy Keiko Agena Yanic Truesdale Scott Patterson Kelly Bishop Edward Herrmann Liza Weil Jared Padalecki Milo Ventimiglia Sean Gunn Chris Eigeman Matt Czuchry
Opening theme	"Where You Lead"byCarole KingandLouise Goffin
Composer	Sam Phillips
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No.of seasons	7
No.of episodes	153(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Amy Sherman-Palladino Daniel Palladino Gavin Polone David S. Rosenthal
Producers	Lauren Graham(season 7; episodes 12 to 22) Patricia Fass Palmer Helen Pai
Production location	Los Angeles
Cinematography	Michael A. Price John C. Flinn III
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	39–45 minutes
Production companies	Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions Hofflund/Polone Warner Bros. Television
Original release
Network	The WB
Release	October 5, 2000(2000-10-05)– May 9, 2006(2006-05-09)
Network	The CW
Release	September 26, 2006(2006-09-26)– May 15, 2007(2007-05-15)
Related
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Gilmore Girlsreceived critical acclaim for its witty dialogue, cross-generational appeal, and effective mix of humor and drama. It was a great success for The WB, peaking during season five as the network's second-most-popular show. The series has been in daily syndication since 2004, while a growing following has led to its status as a 2000s Americancult classic.Since going off the air in 2007,Gilmore Girlshas been cited inTV (The Book)andTimemagazine as one of the 100 greatest television shows of all time. It has also become one of the most watched shows on streaming platforms since it became available onNetflixin 2014 and reaired on The CW. In 2016, the original main cast and Sherman-Palladino returned for the four-part miniseries revivalGilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Premise

Promotional portrait of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore

Gilmore Girlsfollows the lives of single motherLorelai Gilmore(Lauren Graham) and her academically-minded teenage daughter,Lorelai "Rory" Gilmore,who live in the quaint, fictional town ofStars Hollow,Connecticut. Lorelai dreams of owning her owninn,and Rory plans to attendHarvard University.

The show's pilot introduces Lorelai's estranged, wealthy parents,Emily(Kelly Bishop) andRichard Gilmore(Edward Hermann), whom Lorelai must approach for assistance in paying Rory's tuition to attend the prestigious Chilton Preparatory School. They agree to pay, on the condition that Lorelai and Rory have dinner with them every Friday, which sets up one of the show's primary conflicts, as the Gilmores are now forced to face their differences and complicated past, including Lorelai's giving birth to Rory at the age of 16, with her then-boyfriend Christopher Hayden (David Sutcliffe).

Rory's best friend, Lane Kim (Keiko Agena), must navigate through life concealing her "rebellious" interests from her authoritarian mother, Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda), a strict,religious,Koreanimmigrant. She finds ways, often peculiar ways, to secretlydate,listen torock music,and express her love forpop culture,while Mrs. Kim repeatedly attempts to set up Lane with a Korean boy who will be a future doctor. After many set ups, Lane falls in love with a member of her band, Dave Rygalski (Adam Brody). The character of Dave was written out in the following season to accommodate actor Adam Brody's exit. Lane then fell in love with another band member, Zach Van Gerbig, (Todd Lowe) and they have twin children.

Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy) is Lorelai's best friend and chef at the Independence Inn, where they both work. She has a bubbly personality and is accident-prone, but is known for her profound cooking skills. Later, she becomes romantically involved with the inn's vegetable supplier, Jackson Belleville (Jackson Douglas). Then they also reunite.

Also central toGilmore Girlsis Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), owner of Luke's Diner, where Lorelai and Rory frequently dine. Present for many of Rory's milestones, he has become to her a sort offather figure.Later, Luke and Lorelai begin a romantic relationship. InA year in the Life,Lorelai and Luke get married in the last episode.

The townspeople of Stars Hollow are also a constant presence—including the gossiping, flirtatious Miss Patty (Liz Torres) and quirky Kirk Gleason (Sean Gunn). Along with series-long and season-long arcs,Gilmore Girlsis also episodic in nature, with mini-plots within each episode, such as town festivals, problems at Lorelai's inn, or school projects of Rory's.

Synopsis

See also:List of Gilmore Girls episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released	Network
1	21		October 5, 2000(2000-10-05)	May 10, 2001(2001-05-10)	The WB
2	22		October 9, 2001(2001-10-09)	May 21, 2002(2002-05-21)
3	22		September 24, 2002(2002-09-24)	May 20, 2003(2003-05-20)
4	22		September 23, 2003(2003-09-23)	May 18, 2004(2004-05-18)
5	22		September 21, 2004(2004-09-21)	May 17, 2005(2005-05-17)
6	22		September 13, 2005(2005-09-13)	May 9, 2006(2006-05-09)
7	22		September 26, 2006(2006-09-26)	May 15, 2007(2007-05-15)	The CW

Season 1

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 1

Rory Gilmore is accepted by Chilton, a private school that can help her get into Harvard. Because of the school's steep price tag, her mother Lorelai Gilmore talks to her wealthy parents, Richard and Emily Gilmore, with whom she had broken contact for a long time. They had a falling out because of Lorelai's teen pregnancy and parenting choices. They are not involved in one another's lives much, aside from holidays. Emily and Richard agree to pay the tuition on the condition that Lorelai and Rory have Friday night dinners with them, as an attempt to reconnect the family. Lorelai reluctantly agrees to this condition, only because there is no other way for her to afford Rory's schooling. Rory has a difficult time settling in at Chilton, struggling to meet the demands of private school and attracting the fury of classmate Paris Geller, her academic rival. Paris focuses a lot of her attention on making sure that Rory does not have opportunities to succeed at Chilton and at the school's clubs. She meets her first boyfriend, Dean Forester, but the pair break up when Rory does not reciprocate his "I love you", instead saying she needs to think about it. Rory spends the remainder of the season saddened by her break up. After being romantically pursued by Rory's teacher, Max Medina, Lorelai decides, with a conflicted heart, to give the relationship a chance. This dynamic creates some tension between Lorelai and Rory. Eventually, Lorelai becomes frightened by her feelings for Max, as well as Rory accepting him and calling him by his first name, and she attempts to break up with him at Rory's school on Parents' Day. Instead, they end up kissing at school and are seen by Paris, who immediately tells the whole school. After this, Max decides that they should take a break because of the negative feedback from his Boss. At the same time, Lorelai harbors a close friendship with local diner owner Luke Danes, and several people comment on their mutual attraction—but Lorelai is in denial and Luke does not act on it. Rory's father, Christopher Hayden, returns and also wants to be with Lorelai but she tells him he is too immature for family life. All the while, Lorelai struggles to adjust to having her parents in her life on a regular basis. Emily and Richard enjoy developing a relationship with their granddaughter, but also realize how much they have missed. The season ends with Rory reuniting with Dean, and Max proposing to Lorelai. Throughout the season, Rory and Lorelai's unique mother-daughter relationship is tested as they both navigate their respective social worlds—Rory in the academically intense environment of Chilton and Lorelai in the close-knit Stars Hollow community. Lorelai also faces the struggle of balancing her independence with her family's growing presence, especially as Emily begins to love subtly influencing Rory's life and future plans. The season explores themes of family obligation, ambition, and personal growth, as Lorelai and Rory gradually build a bridge between the Gilmore legacy and their own dreams.

Season 2

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 2

Lorelai accepts Max's proposal but realizes shortly before the wedding that it does not feel right and they break up. This decision is preceded by a drunken phone call she makes to her ex, Christopher, at her Bachelorette party. She and her best friend Sookie St. James get excited about opening their own business at the dilapidated Dragonfly Inn but the owner refuses to sell. Sookie gets engaged to Jackson Belleville, a local farmer. Luke's teenage nephew, Jess Mariano, comes to live under his care. Jess is sullen and angry with everyone apart from Rory. The two strike up a friendship, causing jealousy from Dean. Lorelai is disapproving of their closeness, labeling Jess as a bad influence, especially when they are in a car accident, in which Rory breaks her wrist. This leads to a blow-up between Lorelai and Luke. Richard announces that he has retired but soon becomes bored and sets up his own insurance company. Christopher appears to have his life together and Lorelai decides to reunite with him. But at Sookie's wedding, Christopher learns that his recently estranged fiancée Sherry Tinsdale is pregnant and decides to return to her, leaving Lorelai heartbroken. Meanwhile, Rory impulsively kisses Jess.

Season 3

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 3

Rory's attraction to Jess grows stronger but Jess does not show affection or knowledge that it is, and she gets jealous when he teases her with a new girlfriend Shane. Dean cannot ignore what is going on and eventually ends their relationship. Rory and Jess immediately become a couple. Meanwhile, she and Paris spend the year as Student Body Presidents at Chilton and both submit applications toHarvard University.They spend a portion of the season in a rivalry with fellow student Francie Jarvis, who causes a rift between Paris and Rory. Paris and Rory eventually make amends when Paris confides in her that she lost her virginity. Rory's college decision plays a big part in her senior year. Harvard is her dream school, but she applies toYaleas well, which causes a rift between Lorelai, and Emily and Richard. Paris is devastated when she does not get into Harvard. Rory is accepted but decides to attend Yale University instead, much to Emily and Richard's delight. The Independence Inn is badly damaged in a fire, but Lorelai and Sookie are able to buy the Dragonfly when its elderly owner Fran Weston dies. Jess pressures Rory into almost having sex with him, leading to a fist fight between Dean and Jess when the former witnesses an upset Rory. Luke begins dating a lawyer named Nicole Leahy. Lane Kim, Rory's best friend, starts a band called Hep Alien and tries to convince her strict mother Mrs. Kim to let her date the guitarist, Dave Rygalski, all while keeping the band secret. As the season ends, Jess abruptly leaves Stars Hollow to track down his estranged father Jimmy Mariano in California, and Rory graduates high school asvaledictorian.

Season 4

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 4

Rory begins her college education at Yale, with Paris, now a friend, as her surprise roommate. Both start working for theYale Daily News.Rory is surprised when Dean abruptly marries his new girlfriend, Lindsey Lister. Rory and Dean grow close again over the season, leading Rory to turn down Jess when he returns and declares his love for her later on in the season. Lorelai, along with Sookie and their colleague Michel Gerard, spends the season renovating the Dragonfly Inn in preparation for its opening. Lorelai faces financial hardships during this period, ultimately breaking down to Luke who subsequently lends her the money. Lorelai begins dating Richard's new business partner, Jason Stiles, with whom she has been acquainted since childhood. She keeps the relationship a secret from Richard and Emily. Mrs. Kim learns about Hep Alien and kicks Lane out of the house. Sookie and Jackson have a son, Davey. Lorelai and Jason break up after Jason sues Richard for leaving their partnership, while Lorelai sides with Richard. Emily feels neglected by Richard and the two separate, with Richard moving into the pool house. Luke and Nicoleelopeduring a cruise, but decide to divorce soon after. Towards the end of the season, Luke accepts that he is in love with Lorelai and begins wooing her. The pair finally kiss on the Dragonfly's opening night, while Rory loses her virginity to a married Dean.

Season 5

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 5

Facing conflict with Lorelai, Rory embarks on a European trip with Emily and seldom speaks with Lorelai. Near the end of the trip, Lorelai and Rory reconcile over the phone, and Rory asks Lorelai to give Dean a letter for her. Dean's wife Lindsey finds the letter, which contains information about the affair. They consequently separate. Rory briefly progresses her relationship with Dean but it ends when he realizes how different their lives are. She falls for Logan Huntzberger, a wealthy playboy Yale student whose parents Mitchum and Shira Huntzberger and grandfather Elias Huntzberger consider Rory's lineage inferior to their own. Lane starts a relationship with her bandmate Zach Van Gerbig, and Paris starts a relationship withYale Daily Newseditor Doyle McMaster. Sookie gives birth to her daughter, Martha. Lorelai and Luke start a relationship. Emily and Richard – who reunite and renew their wedding vows – disapprove of Luke, and Emily interferes by telling Christopher to try to win her back. Christopher shows up at Emily and Richard's vow renewal, professing his love for Lorelai, which overwhelms Luke, resulting in separation between him and Lorelai, as well as a major argument between Lorelai and Emily. Rory gets an internship at Logan's father Mitchum's newspaper but is deflated when Mitchum tells her she "doesn't have it." Rory lashes out afterwards and suggests to Logan, at his sister Honor Huntzberger's engagement party, that they steal a yacht. The two are arrested, and Rory later announces to Lorelai that she is quitting Yale, and moves into Richard and Emily's pool house. When Lorelai sees how supportive Luke is over the situation, she asks him to marry her.

Season 6

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 6

Lorelai is disappointed by Rory's actions but concedes that she cannot force her to go back to Yale; it is a decision Rory must make for herself. Lorelai and Rory do not speak for six months. Rory has to completecommunity serviceand Emily finds her a job with theDAR.Richard becomes concerned with Rory's engaging in the socialite lifestyle without continuing her education. Eventually, after admonishment from Jess, Rory returns to Yale and reunites with Lorelai. She later replaces Paris as editor of theYale Daily News,which causes a disruption in their friendship. After a short separation from Logan, the relationship gets serious. Rory is crushed when Mitchum sends Logan to work in London. Hep Alien disband then come back together. Lane and Zach get married after Zach undergoes a rigorous vetting from Mrs. Kim. Lorelai plans a wedding with Luke, but things get difficult when Luke learns that he has a 12-year-old daughter named April Nardini. He starts building a relationship with her but keeps Lorelai separate. Lorelai tries to accept this but eventually snaps and issues him an ultimatum. When he does not agree to elope, Lorelai goes to Christopher for physical and emotional comfort.

Season 7

Main article:Gilmore Girlsseason 7

Lorelai and Luke officially split when she tells him she slept with Christopher. Before much time has passed, Christopher convinces Lorelai to try a relationship. Christopher receives a letter from Sherry, who is his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his second child, Georgia Hayden. The letter states Sherry wants to be a part of Georgia's life again and requests that she spend time with her in Paris. Lorelai and Christopher decide to go with Georgia to get her settled. The pair spontaneously marry during the trip to Paris. Luke has a custody battle over April after her mother Anna Nardini moves them to New Mexico, and he asks Lorelai to write him a character reference. Luke ends up winning the right to see April during the holidays. Christopher finds what Lorelai wrote about Luke and is upset. Lorelai and Christopher accept that they are not right together and they divorce, though the divorce is never shown or mentioned subsequently. Lane and Zach have twins Steve and Kwan Van Gerbig, and Sookie becomes pregnant again. Rory completes her final year of college. She and Logan spend half the season in a long-distance relationship until he eventually moves back to New York. He proposes, but Rory says that she wants to keep her options open, which leads to their separation. She panics about what she will do after graduating; following some rejection, she gets a job reporting on theBarack Obamacampaign trail. Stars Hollow throws a surprise farewell party for Rory. When Lorelai finds out that Luke organized it, the pair reconcile with a kiss. Lorelai promises Emily that she will continue attending Friday night dinners. Before Lorelai and Rory have to say goodbye, they have one last breakfast atLuke's Diner.

A Year in the Life

Main article:Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Nine years after the end of the original series, Netflix produced aGilmore Girlsrevival miniseries. Rory is struggling in her journalism career and having a no-strings-attached, secret affair with Logan in London, while technically having a boyfriend named Paul who she often forgets about. While Logan is engaged to be married, the two of them cannot seem to stay apart. Lorelai and Luke live together but are still having communication problems. Richard has recently died of a heart attack, which causes tension between Lorelai and Emily, and they end up in joint therapy. Lorelai starts to question her life, so she travels to California with intentions to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, where she has an epiphany. She fixes the rift with Emily by recounting a happy story about Richard, and goes home to propose to Luke. Emily decides to sell the Gilmore mansion and move toNantucket,where she starts working in a museum. After encouragement from Jess, Rory decides to write a book about her life calledGilmore Girls.After Luke and Lorelai marry, Rory informs Lorelai that she is pregnant.

The miniseries aired onUp TVand The CW in November 2020, partly because the latter network needed additional programming to fill its schedule during theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Cast and characters

Main article:List ofGilmore Girlscharacters

Main

• Lauren GrahamasLorelai Gilmore:Independent, 32-year-old single mom who runs a local inn with a deep love for pop culture and coffee. She gave birth to Rory when she was 16 years old. She and Sookie later buy and own the Dragonfly Inn.
• Alexis BledelasRory Gilmore:Precocious and academically driven only daughter of Lorelai, almost 16 at the start of the show.
• Melissa McCarthyasSookie St. James:Lorelai's chirpy best friend and chef/co-owner at the inn.
• Keiko AgenaasLane Kim:Rory's best friend who lives a secret life, defying her strict, religious mother by becoming a rocker.
• Yanic TruesdaleasMichel Gerard:The grumpy Frenchconciergeat Lorelai and Sookie's inn.
• Scott PattersonasLuke Danes:Grouchy but kind-hearted diner owner; Lorelai's friend and eventual love interest.
• Kelly BishopasEmily Gilmore:Matriarch of the Gilmore family, who lives as ahigh societyhousewife. She and Lorelai have a strained relationship.
• Edward HerrmannasRichard Gilmore:Patriarch of the Gilmore family, who works in insurance. He and Emily aid in Rory's school fees and college fees.
• Liza WeilasParis Geller:Rory's feisty nemesisand eventual best friendthroughout high school and college. (main seasons 2–7; recurring season 1)
• Jared PadaleckiasDean Forester:Rory's season 1–3 boyfriend, who moved to Stars Hollow from Chicago. He later marries and divorces Lindsay after cheating on her with Rory. (main seasons 2–3; recurring seasons 1, 4–5)
• Milo VentimigliaasJess Mariano:Luke's troubled nephew who falls for Rory and becomes an intense but short-lived boyfriend. He moves away to live with his father at the end of season 3. (main seasons 2–3; recurring season 4; guest season 6)
• Sean GunnasKirk Gleason:Quirky resident of Stars Hollow who works numerous jobs around the town. He shows romantic interest in Lorelai but is rejected. He later dates a girl called Lulu Kuschner - they are still dating inGilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.(main seasons 3–7; recurring seasons 1–2)
• Chris EigemanasJason Stilesa boyfriend of Lorelai and short-lived business partner of Richard. (main season 4)
• Matt CzuchryasLogan Huntzberger:Rory's season 5–7 boyfriend, the heir of aNew York Times-esque publishing family resembling that of theOchs-Sulzberger family.(main seasons 6–7; recurring season 5)

Recurring

• Liz TorresasPatricia "Miss Patty" LaCosta,the friendly and kind-hearted town dance teacher and gossip
• Emily KurodaasMrs. Kim,Lane's strictSeventh-day Adventistmother who has a strained relationship with her daughter
• Sally StruthersasBabette Dell,Lorelai's eccentric but friendly neighbor and town gossip - she is close friends with Patty
• Jackson Douglas asJackson Belleville,Sookie's husband and a local farmer.He and Sookie share two children, David and Martha, throughout the show
• Michael WintersasTaylor Doose,the uptight townSelectmanwho often irrates Luke with his requests and rules
• David SutcliffeasChristopher Hayden,Rory's father and Lorelai's on-off love interest (seasons 1–3; 5–7)
• Shelly ColeasMadeline Lynn,Paris and Rory's high school friend (seasons 1–4)
• Teal RedmannasLouise Grant,Paris and Rory's high school friend (seasons 1–4)
• Scott CohenasMax Medina,Lorelai's season one boyfriend and brief fiancé, and Rory's English teacher at Chilton (seasons 1–3)
• Chad Michael Murrayas Tristin Dugray, a wealthy Chilton student who has a crush on Rory who is later transferred due to his bad behavior (seasons 1–2)
• Dakin Matthewsas Hanlin Charleston, Headmaster of Chilton and friend of Richard and Emily (seasons 1–3, guest seasons 5 & 7)
• Marion Rossas Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore, Richard's mean mother (seasons 1; 3–4)
• Lisa Ann Hadleyas Rachel, Luke's photographer and traveler ex-girlfriend (season 1)
• Alex Borsteinas Drella, the Independence Inn harpist (season 1), and "Miss Celine", Emily Gilmore's seamstress (season 5)
• Rose AbdooasGypsy,the town mechanic(seasons 2–7)
• Carole Kingas Sophie Bloom, owner of the Sophie's Music shop which Lane frequents often (seasons 2, 5–6)
• Biff Yeageras Tom, a Stars Hollow contractor (seasons 2–4; 6)
• Emily Berglas Francie Jarvis, a student at Chilton (seasons 2–3)
• Todd Loweas Zach Van Gerbig, Lane's bandmate and eventual husband and father to their twin sons Steve and Kwan (seasons 3–7)
• John Cabreraas Brian Fuller, Lane's bandmate (seasons 3–7)
• Tricia O'Kelleyas Nicole Leahy, Luke's season 3–4 lawyer girlfriend and short-term wife (seasons 3–4)
• Arielle Kebbelas Lindsay Lister, Dean's girlfriend and wife - they divorce later on when he cheats on her with Rory (seasons 3–5)
• Adam BrodyasDave Rygalski,Lane's bandmate and season 3 boyfriend - they break up later on when Dave moves to college (season 3) (Dave was written out due to Brody's commitments toThe O.C.)
• Sebastian Bachas Gil, Lane's older bandmate (seasons 4–7)
• Danny Strongas Doyle McMaster, Paris's boyfriend and one-time editor of theYale Daily News(seasons 4–7)
• Kathleen Wilhoiteas Liz Danes, Luke's flighty and irresponsible sister and Jess's mother (seasons 4–7)
• Michael DeLuiseas TJ, Luke's dopey but kind-hearted brother-in-law (seasons 4–7)
• Wayne WilcoxasMarty,Rory's friend at Yale who has unrequited feelings for her (seasons 4–5; 7)
• Rini Bellas Lulu Kuschner, Kirk's girlfriend (seasons 4–7)
• Alan Loayza as Colin McCrae, Logan's wealthy friend (seasons 5–6)
• Tanc Sadeas Finn, Logan's wealthy friend (seasons 5–6)
• Gregg Henryas Mitchum Huntzberger, Logan's father and a newspaper mogul (seasons 5–7)
• Vanessa Maranoas April Nardini, Luke's "long lost" pre-teen daughter whom he finds out about in season 6 (seasons 6–7)
• Sherilyn FennasAnna Nardini,April's mother and Luke's ex-girlfriend(seasons 6–7)
• Krysten Ritteras Lucy, Rory's friend (season 7)
• Michelle Ongkingcoas Olivia Marquont, Rory's friend (season 7)

Production

Background

I sold it off of a line, 'It's [a] mother and daughter and they're more like friends than mother and daughter.' And they all perked up and literally said, 'Great, we'll buy that.' I walked out of there and turned to my manager at the time and said, 'That's all I got. I don't know what the show is.'

–Amy Sherman-Palladino on her initial pitch toThe WB

Amy Sherman-Palladino,who came from a background of writing for half-hoursitcoms,hadGilmore Girlsapproved byThe WBafter several of her previous pitches were turned down. On a whim, she suggested a show about a mother and daughter but had put little thought into the idea.Having to create a pilot, she drew inspiration for the show's setting of "Stars Hollow, Connecticut", after making a trip toWashington, Connecticut,where she stayed at the Mayflower Inn. She explained: "If I can make people feel this much of what I felt walking around this fairy town, I thought that would be wonderful... At the time I was there, it was beautiful, it was magical, and it was a feeling of warmth and small-town camaraderie... There was a longing for that in my own life, and I thought—that's something that I would really love to put out there."Stars Hollow was inspired by and is loosely based on the actual villages of Washington Depot, Connecticut;West Hartford, Connecticut,and the town ofNew Milford.

Once the setting was established,Gilmore Girlsdeveloped as a mixture of sitcom and family drama.Sherman-Palladino's aim was to create "A family show that doesn't make parents want to stick something sharp in their eyes while they're watching it and doesn't talk down to kids."She wanted the family dynamic to be important because "It's a constant evolution... You never run out of conflict."The show's pace, dialogue, and focus on class divisions was heavily inspired by thescrewball comediesof the 1930s andKatharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracyfilms.Sherman-Palladino was also influenced by the "acerbic wit" ofDorothy Parker.

Thepilot episodeofGilmore Girlsreceived financial support from the script development fund of theFamily Friendly Programming Forum,which includes some of the nation's leading advertisers, making it one of the first networks shows to reach the air with such funding.The show wasgreen-litby The WB, and Sherman-Palladino proceeded to exercise control over all aspects of its production.Her husbandDaniel Palladinowas a consultant and occasional writer for the first season, then agreed to quit his producer position onFamily Guyto commit toGilmore Girls;he became anexecutive producerwith the second season, and also played a major role.The show's third executive producer wasGavin Polone.

Casting

Alexis Bledel's first acting job was playingRory Gilmore.

Alexis Bledelwas cast in the key role of Rory despite having no previous acting experience. Sherman-Palladino was drawn to her shyness and innocence, which she said was essential for the character, and felt she photographed well.Lauren Grahamwas pursued by the casting directors from the start of the process, but she was committed to another show onNBC.A week before the shooting, they had still failed to cast Lorelai, so they asked Graham to audition anyway. Sherman-Palladino cast her that day, on the hope that Graham's other show (M.Y.O.B.,which wasburned offas a summer replacement series several months before the premiere ofGilmore Girls) would be canceled, which it soon was.She later explained how Graham met all the criteria she had been looking for: "Lorelai's a hard fucking part. You've got to be funny, you've got to talk really fucking fast, you've got to be able to act, you've got to be sexy, but not scary sexy. You've got to be strong, but not like 'I hate men'".Graham and Bledel only met the night before they started filming the pilot.

In casting the grandparents, Sherman-Palladino had veteran actorEdward Herrmannin mind for Richard and was delighted when he agreed.Kelly Bishop,a fellow New York stage actress, was cast straight after her audition; Sherman-Palladino recalled knowing immediately "and there's Emily".The role of the Stars Hollow diner owner was originally a woman, but the network reported that they needed more men andScott Pattersonwas cast as Luke. It was advertised as a guest role, but Patterson said he treated the pilot as "a chemistry test" and he was promptly promoted to series regular.

In the pilot, Sookie was played byAlex Borstein,but she could not be released from herMad TVcontract. She was therefore replaced byMelissa McCarthy,who re-filmed Sookie's scenes. The role of Dean also changed after the pilot, with the original actor replaced by a newcomerJared Padalecki.The character Lane was based on Sherman-Palladino's friend and fellow producerHelen Pai;Japanese-AmericanactressKeiko Agenawas cast in the role when they could not find an appropriateKorean-Americanactress.Liza Weilauditioned to play Rory, and while she was considered wrong for the part Sherman-Palladino liked her so much that she wrote the role of Paris especially for her.

Writing

Headed by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino from seasons 1 to 6,Gilmore Girlshad a small writing staff that changed regularly throughout the series. The Palladinos wrote a high percentage of episodes and would review and rework the dialogue in episodes allocated to others. As such, the show is considered to have a distinctive "voice". Sherman-Palladino said "every draft either I write, or it passes through my hands... so that there is a consistency of tone. It's very important that it feels like the same show every week because it is so verbal."The main job of the writers' room was to help develop storylines and create detailed episode outlines.Notable writers who worked on the show at some point includeJenji Kohan,Bill Prady,Jane Espenson,Rebecca Rand Kirshner,andJanet Leahy.

Gilmore Girlscreator andshowrunner,Amy Sherman-Palladino

As signaled by its tagline "Life's short. Talk fast",Gilmore Girlsis known for its fast-paced dialogue and "witty repartee".Sherman-Palladino wanted a snappy delivery from the characters because she believes that "comedy dies slow",which required large volumes of dialogue to fill the hour-long time slot.Scripts averaged 80 pages per episode, compared to an "hour-long" average of 55–60 pages, with one page translating to 20–25 seconds of screen time.Scott Patterson later said that the pace of the dialogue led to both him and Lauren Graham quitting smoking— "She needed her wind, and I needed my wind."

Much of the dialogue is peppered with references to film, television shows, music, literature, and celebrity culture. The range of references is broad, summarized by criticKen Tuckeras "some cross betweenMystery Science Theater 3000andUlysses".Sherman-Palladino wanted the characters to speak this way as an indicator of their worldliness and intelligence, and to cater to a broad audience.At the start, she argued with the network about the frequently old-fashioned references; when she refused to remove a comment aboutOscar Levant,she felt the executives adopted an attitude of "Let the crazy woman dig her own grave."The relative obscurity of some of the allusions resulted in explanatory "Gilmore-isms" booklets being included in the DVD sets of the first four seasons.

In contrast to the rapid-fire dialogue, storylines onGilmore Girlsmove slowly. Sherman-Palladino's motto was "make the small big, make the big small", which she learned from her days writing forRoseanne.She chose to be "very stingy with events", and the drama is low-key because "sometimes the average everyday things are more impactful".Key incidents often take place off-screen and are only revealed through character conversations, which journalist Constance Grady says is because "OnGilmore Girls,the explosion is never what matters: It's the fallout. "The show similarly uses subtext rather than exposition, "where people will talk a great deal in order to obscure what they really mean to say".The writers did not like moments to be overly sentimental, preferring characters to show love through actions and behavior.Sherman-Palladino stated that the network did not interfere or request changes,though there is speculation that she delivered scripts at the last minute to avoid their input.

Sherman-Palladino treated Lorelai as a reflection of herself. Her husband commented: "Amy writing for Lorelai Gilmore has always been really special. No surprise, they're kind of doppelgängers... Amy and Lorelai are very, very similar. That character is a great cipher for a lot of what Amy is and has been, from the very beginning."

Filming

Exterior of Lorelai and Rory's house, on theWarner Bros.backlot

Thepilot episodewas shot in the Toronto suburb ofUnionville.The rest of the series was filmed at theWarner Bros.lot inBurbank, California.Exterior scenes of Stars Hollow, along with those at Luke's Diner and Miss Patty's dance studio, were all filmed on thebacklot— with dozens ofbackground actorsutilized to make it look like a functioning town. Production designers regularly had to decorate the town square with fake leaves or fake snow to make it look like a New England fall or winter. Interiors of Lorelai's house and inn, and all scenes at Yale and the Gilmore mansion, were filmed on asound stage.Very occasionally, the show was filmedon location.The exterior shots of Rory's preparatory school, Chilton, were filmed atGreystone MansioninBeverly Hills, California.Rory's visit to Harvard was filmed atUCLA,the first visit to Yale was filmed atPomona College,and subsequent Yale shots were filmed at sound stages inBurbank, California,andUSC.

The shot of "Stars Hollow" seen in the first frame of the show's opening credits is actually a panoramic view of SouthRoyalton, Vermont.

Gilmore Girlsrelied on amaster shotfilming style, in which a scene is filmed to frame characters and their dialogue together within a long and uninterrupted single take; often illustrated through another method regularly employed on the show, thewalk and talk.Sherman-Palladino explained "There's an energy and style to our show that's very simple, in my mind... [it] almost needs to be shot like a play. That's how we get our pace, our energy, and our flow... I don't think it could work any other way."

It took eight working days to shoot an episode,and days were regularly 14–20 hours long.Lauren Graham said: "We filmed alongsideThe West Wing,andAaron Sorkinshows are known for having the worst hours ever, they go on and on, but we were always there even after they had gone home, because you couldn't change a word of the script. "The cast were required to be word-perfect in all the scenes, while also reciting large amounts of dialogue at speed.Matt Czuchry,who had a main role for the final three seasons, commented, "The pace of the dialogue was what made that show incredibly unique, and also incredibly difficult as an actor. To be able to maintain that speed, tone, and at the same time, try to make layered choices was a great experience to have early in my career. It really challenged me."The combination of the difficult dialogue and long takes meant each scene had to be shot many times; Graham said in 2015: "never before or since have I done as many takes of anything".Alexis Bledel recalled that one scene required 38 takes.Graham added, "That show — as fun and breezy and light as it is — is technically really challenging."

Music

Singer-songwriterSam Phillipscomposed theGilmore Girlsmusical score.

Gilmore Girls'non-diegeticscore was composed by singer-songwriterSam Phillipsthroughout its entire run. Sherman-Palladino, who served as themusic supervisorof the series, was a big fan of the musician and secured her involvement.For the score's instrumental arrangement, Phillips primarily used her voice and anacoustic guitar,and on occasion includedpiano,violin,anddrums.Many of the musical cues are accompanied bymelodic "la-la" s and "ahh" s,which developed because Sherman-Palladino wanted the score to sound connected to the girls themselves, almost like "an extension of their thoughts... if they had music going in their head during a certain emotional thing in their life." Sherman-Palladino felt that the score elevated the series "because it wasn't a wasted element in the show. Everything was trying to say a little something, add a little something to it."Several of Phillips' album tracks are also played in the show, and she made an appearance in the season six finale "Partings", performing part of "Taking Pictures".

Thetheme songis a version ofCarole King's 1971 song "Where You Lead".King made a new recording specially forGilmore Girls:a duet with her daughterLouise Goffin.She was happy that it gave the song "a deeper meaning of love between a mother and her child".King appeared in several episodes as Sophie, the town music shop owner, and performed a brief portion of her song "I Feel the Earth Move"in the revival.

Music also plays a large part in the show as a frequent topic of conversation between characters and in live performances within scenes and at the end of episodes.Musical acts who made appearances includeThe Bangles,Sonic Youth,Sparks,andThe Shins.Grant-Lee Phillipsappears in at least one episode per season as the town'stroubadour,singing his own songs and covers.In 2002, a soundtrack toGilmore Girlswas released byRhino Records,entitledOur Little Corner of the World: Music from Gilmore Girls.The CD booklet features anecdotes from show producers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino about the large part music has played in their lives.

Developments

Change of showrunner

In 2006, the WB merged withUPNto form a new network,The CW.Gilmore Girlssurvived the merger, being selected as one of seven WB shows to be transferred for a new season, but it resulted in a significant change. In April that year, it was announced that Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband Daniel Palladino could not come to an agreement with The CW and would be leaving the show when their contracts expired that summer.JournalistMichael Ausiellosaid of the decision: "The thought ofGilmore Girlsheading into what is likely to be its final season (and its first on a brand-new network) without its mama or her right-hand man is unfathomable. "Discussing the departure later, Sherman-Palladino reflected on the contract dispute in an interview withVulture,saying:

It was a botched negotiation. It really was about the fact that I was working too much. I was going to be the crazy person who was locked in my house and never came out. I heard a lot of 'Amy doesn't need a writing staff because she and Dan Palladino write everything!' I thought,That's a great mentality on your part, but if you want to keep the show going for two more years, let me hire more writers.By the way, all this shit we asked for? They had to do [it] anyway when we left. They hired this big writing staff and a producer-director onstage. That's what bugged me the most. They wound up having to do what we'd asked for anyway, and I wasn't there.

David S. Rosenthal,who worked on the show as a writer and producer for season 6, was selected by Sherman-Palladino to replace her asshowrunner.Commenting on this change, an article inWiredsays: "the Palladinos had written the majority of the episodes up to that point, and their distinctive rhythms and obsessions were what definedGilmore Girls.What remains after their departure is something that seems likeGilmore Girls Adjacentmore than anything. "

Cancellation

There was speculation during the seventh season that it would be the show's final year, as Graham and Bledel's contracts were both coming to an end. As negotiations continued between the actresses and the network, Rosenthal planned a finale that "could serve as an ending or a beginning of a new chapter and a new season".Graham later said that by the end of the filming schedule "there was a 50/50 chance we'd be returning", and she requested that the finale provide "an opportunity to say goodbye" to the characters, in case of cancellation.Due to the uncertainty, the cast and crew did not have a final wrap party or an opportunity to say farewells.

The CW initially considered bringing the show back for a shortened, 13-episode season but then decided against the idea.On May 3, 2007, shortly before the final episode aired, the network announced that the series would not be renewed.Graham explained that the possibility of returning fell through because "We were trying to find a way we [she and Bledel] could have a slightly easier schedule, and there was really no way to do that and still have it beGilmore Girls."

Revival

Main article:Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

OfficialNetflixtitle announcement for the 2016revival miniseries

Because the final season was not written by the series creator, and the new writers had not known that the finale was definitely the last episode, Lauren Graham noted that a lot of fans "were disappointed with how it [the series] ended".In 2009, Amy Sherman-Palladino expressed an interest in pursuing aGilmore Girlsfilm, to finish the series as she originally intended.Over the following years, fans and journalists continued to ask regularly if the show would return. Privately, Sherman-Palladino stayed in contact with Graham, Bledel, Patterson, and Bishop to discuss the possibility, but nothing came to fruition.

In June 2015, for the 15th anniversary of the show, the cast and showrunners reunited for a special panel at theATX Television Festival.When asked about a possible revival, Sherman-Palladino told the audience "I'm sorry, there's nothing in the works at the moment."The hype generated by the reunion, however, empowered Sherman-Palladino to pitch new episodes and encouragedNetflixto produce them.In October 2015 – eight years after the show had ended –TVLinereported that the streaming channel struck a deal with Warner Bros to revive the series in a limited run, consisting of four 90-minute episodes, written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.The Palladinos explained that it felt like the right time creatively to continue the story, and that the freedom provided by Netflix made it possible.

The revival miniseries, titledGilmore Girls: A Year in the Life,was filmed from February to May 2016. Aside from Edward Herrmann, who died two years prior, every cast member who received a main credit on the show returned for at least a scene, while many supporting characters also made an appearance. The sets all had to be rebuilt from scratch, using nothing but photos and footage from the original series.The revival was released on Netflix on November 25, 2016, to positive reviews.There is speculation regarding a possible second revival, with Netflix reportedly keen.

Broadcast history

Gilmore Girls'first season commenced on The WB in the Thursday 8pm/7pm Central time slot, as a lead-in forCharmed.Renewed for a second season, the show was relocated on Tuesdays 8pm/7pm, the time slot ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer,which transferred to UPN, and served as a lead-in forSmallville,which became an instant hit and always beatGilmore Girlsin the ratings. During seasons 4 and 5, it led intoOne Tree Hill,which slowly became a hit. In season 6, it led intoSupernatural,which became another hit for The WB and continued on until 2020.Both series were led by formerGilmore Girlsactors, withOne Tree HillstarringChad Michael Murray,andJared Padaleckias a co-star inSupernatural.

First-season reruns aired on Monday nights from March 5 until April 9, 2001, during a mid-season hiatus ofRoswell,to build audience awareness of the series. An additional run of the first season aired in 2002 on Sunday nights under the titleGilmore Girls Beginnings(which featured a modified opening sequence voiced with a monologue detailing the premise from Graham), and was one of two shows on The WB to have "Beginnings" in its title for reruns, along with7th Heaven.

Syndication

In the US, the show began itssyndicatedrelease onABC Familyin 2004.The network continued to air the show daily under its new nameFreeformuntil the fall of 2018, when those rights moved toPop.In October 2015,Gilmore Girlsbegan running onUp TV,which continues to air it to this day. Josef Adalian ofVulturecommented on the rarity of Freeform and Up TV carrying a series of its type in syndication: "not that many non-procedural, hour-long shows from the early part of the century—particularly those from a small network such as WB—are still even airing regularly on one cable network, let alone two."Up TV showedGilmore Girls1,100 times in its first year; Freeform aired it 400 times in the same period.

From 2009 to 2013,Gilmore Girlsalso aired in weekend timeslots onSOAPnet.The series began running onLogo TVin August 2020. Since 2016, UP TV has aired a weeklong marathon of all episodes ofGilmore Girlsaround the Thanksgiving holiday. As the network maintains a family-friendly focus and programming schedule, some minor dialogue edits are made in a number of episodes, mainly when "hell" and "damn" are said, though all episodes are carried.

In the UK, the series premiered onNickelodeonin 2003. Only the first three seasons were shown, with episodes edited for content, and some, like "The Big One",dropped entirely. The series was subsequently picked up by theHallmark Channel,which gave UK premieres to seasons four and five. It was rerun in its entirety onE4until January 2012. The show moved to5Star,then in 2018 changed to daily screenings on theParamount Network.

InIreland,the series aired its entire run onRTÉ Oneon Sundays, before moving toTG4.In Australia, from 16 March 2015,Gilmore Girlsbegan airing again at weeknights on digital terrestrial networkGEMand in 2024, reruns ofGilmore Girlsrepeats episodes airing from Saturday afternoons at 4:00 pm on theNine Networkand9Now.

Home media and online

Warner Home Videoreleased all seven seasons ofGilmore Girlson DVD, in regions1,2and4,mainly in full-screen4:3ratio due to Amy Sherman-Palladino's preference at the time of original release. The full series DVD boxset was released in 2007. Special features include deleted scenes, three behind-the-scenes featurettes, cast interviews, montages, and one episode commentary (for "You Jump, I Jump, Jack").

On October 1, 2014, all seven seasons of the series began streaming on Netflix's "Watch Instantly" service in the United States; all episodes, including the three seasons before The WB transitioned the series to16:9HDbroadcast from season four on, are in that format. On July 1, 2016,Gilmore Girlsbecame available on Netflix worldwide.All seasons ofGilmore Girlsare also available for digital download on theiTunes Store,Amazonand other digital sales websites, with all digital sites offering all episodes in HD.

Reception

Critical response

Lauren Graham,who playedLorelai Gilmore,received critical acclaim for her performance.

Gilmore Girlspremiered to critical acclaim.Upon debut,Gilmore Girlswas lauded for the distinct, dialogue-infused style created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the strength of the dynamic familial themes, and the performances of its cast, particularly leading star Lauren Graham. OnMetacritic,the first season has an average rating of 81 out of 100 from 26 reviews, indicating "universal praise".

In theSan Francisco Chronicle,John Carman wrote "It's cross-generational, warm-the-cockles viewing, and it's a terrific show. Can this really be the WB, niche broadcaster to horny mall rats?"Caryn JamesofThe New York Timescalled it a "witty, charming show" that "is redefining family in a realistic, entertaining way for today's audience, all the while avoiding the sappiness that makes sophisticated viewers run from anything labeled a 'family show.'"Ray RichmondofThe Hollywood Reporterdeclared it "a genuine gem in the making, a family-friendly hour unburdened by trite cliche or precocious pablum,"while Jonathan Storm ofThe Philadelphia Inquirerdubbed it "a touching, funny, lively show that really does appeal to all ages".David ZurawikofThe Baltimore SuncalledGilmore Girls"One of the most pleasant surprises of the new season".

For the second-season premiere, Hal Boedeker of theOrlando Sentinelpraised the show as "one of television's great, unsung pleasures", and said "Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino writes clever dialogue and ingratiating comedy, but she also knows how to do bittersweet drama."Emily Yahr ofThe Washington Postretrospectively called the second installment "Pretty much a perfect season of television".Viewers were concerned that the show would suffer when Rory left for college after season 3,and Yahr commented that the show was not "the same" from this point but gave seasons four and five a positive 7/10.

The last two seasons were less positively received.Maureen Ryanof theChicago Tribunedescribed the sixth season as "uneven at best", explaining, "the protracted fight between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore left the writers scrambling to cram the show with filler plots that stretched many fans' patience to the limit."The introduction of Luke's daughter has been described as "pretty much the most hated plot device inGilmore Girlshistory ".Ken TuckerfromEntertainment Weeklyrated the seventh season "C", describing it as "a death-blow season [which] was more accuratelyGilmore Ghosts,as the exhausted actors bumped into the furniture searching for their departed souls and smart punchlines ". But he concluded that before this came" six seasons of magnificent mixed emotions "among a" perfect television idyll ". Giving the show an overall rating of" A− ", he added," industry ignorance of the writing and of Graham's performance in particular will remain an eternal scandal ".

Kelly BishopportrayedEmily Gilmore.

Gilmore Girlswas listed as one ofTimemagazine's "All-Time 100 TV Shows".and was ranked the 87th greatest American television series inTV (The Book),authored by criticsAlan SepinwallandMatt Zoller Seitzin 2016.Entertainment WeeklyplacedGilmore Girls32nd on its "New TV Classics" list,and included the show on its end-of-the-2000s "best-of" list,andThe A.V. Clubnamed "They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?" as one of the best TV episodes of the decade.Alan Sepinwall included the show in his "Best of the 00s in Comedies" list, saying: "Gilmoreoffered up an unconventional but enormously appealing family... As the quippy, pop culture-quoting younger Gilmores were forced to reconnect with their repressed elders, creator Amy Sherman-Palladino got plenty of laughs and tears out of the generational divide, and out of showing the family Lorelai created for herself and her daughter in the idealized,Norman Rockwell-esque town of Stars Hollow. At its best,Gilmore Girlswas pure, concentrated happiness. "

In 2016, Amy Plitt ofRolling Stonereflected on the enduring appeal ofGilmore Girls,and noted that it stood out from other family shows like7th Heaven,The O.C.andEverwoodby being "far richer, deeper... The characters were funny and relatable, the banter was zinger-heavy, the familial drama was poignant and the romantic chemistry... was off the charts."

Television ratings

Viewer ratings forGilmore Girlswere not relatively large, but the numbers were a success for the smaller WB network and it became one of their flagship series.For its first season the show aired in the tough Thursday 8pm/7pmCentraltime slot dominated byFriendsonNBCandSurvivoronCBS.Critical acclaim encouraged the network to move it to Tuesday evenings, as part of a push to promote the series and due to the move of Tuesday stalwartBuffy the Vampire Slayerto UPN in the same timeslot.During season 2, ratings forGilmore GirlssurpassedBuffyand it became The WB's third-highest-rated show,with viewer numbers that grew by double digits in all majordemographics.For seasons 4–7,Gilmore Girlswas up against the US's top-rated showAmerican Idol,which led to a drop in viewers,but with Season 5 it became The WB's second-most-watched prime time show.The series was often in the top 3 most-viewed shows in its timeslot for women under 35.

Viewership and ratings per season ofGilmore Girls

Season	Timeslot (ET)	Network	Episodes	First aired		Last aired		TV season	Viewership rank	Avg.viewers (millions)
				Date	Viewers (millions)	Date	Viewers (millions)
1	Thursday 8:00 pm	The WB	21	October 5, 2000(2000-10-05)	5.03	May 10, 2001(2001-05-10)	4.31	2000–01	126	3.6
2	Tuesday 8:00 pm		22	October 9, 2001(2001-10-09)	6.55	May 21, 2002(2002-05-21)	6.21	2001–02	121	5.2
3			22	September 24, 2002(2002-09-24)	6.20	May 20, 2003(2003-05-20)	5.49	2002–03	121	4.97
4			22	September 23, 2003(2003-09-23)	4.53	May 18, 2004(2004-05-18)	5.46	2003–04	157	4.13
5			22	September 21, 2004(2004-09-21)	5.80	May 17, 2005(2005-05-17)	5.89	2004–05	110	4.8
6			22	September 13, 2005(2005-09-13)	6.22	May 9, 2006(2006-05-09)	5.33	2005–06	153	4.58
7		The CW	22	September 26, 2006(2006-09-26)	4.48	May 15, 2007(2007-05-15)	4.86	2006–07	206	3.73

In its 2016 syndicated release,Gilmore Girlsaveraged 100,000–120,000 viewers per episode, for an annual viewership of 11 million on each of its networks.The same year, thechief content officerfor Netflix,Ted Sarandos,citedGilmore Girlsas one of the streaming channel's most watched shows worldwide.

Awards and nominations

Main article:List of awards and nominations received byGilmore Girls

Gilmore Girlsearned several accolades, but did not receive much attention from the major awarding bodies.Its onlyEmmynomination was forOutstanding Makeup for a Series,for the episode "The Festival of Living Art", which it won at the56th Primetime Emmy Awardsin 2004.Michael Ausiello has attributed this to "a notorious bias against the WB".Recognition did come from theAmerican Film Institute,who namedGilmore Girlsone of the ten best shows at theAmerican Film Institute Awardsof 2002,and theTelevision Critics Association(TCA) who named itOutstanding New Program of the Yearat the17th TCA Awardsin 2001.TheTCA Awardsalso nominated the show forOutstanding Dramain 2001 and at the18th TCA Awardsin 2002, andOutstanding Comedyat the21st TCA Awardsin 2005. TheSatellite Awardsnominated it forBest Series – Musical or Comedyat the7th Golden Satellite Awardsin 2002 and the9th Golden Satellite Awardsin 2004, while it was nominated for Favorite Television Drama at the31st People's Choice Awardsin 2005.The show was honored by theViewers for Quality Televisionwith a "seal of quality" in 2000.The series also achieved considerable attention from theTeen Choice Awards,where it received multiple nominations and wins including the award forChoice Comedy Seriesat the2005 Teen Choice Awards.

Lauren Graham was nominated for aGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Dramaat the59th Golden Globe Awardsand twice for theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Seriesfor her work on the first and second seasons, and received five successive nominations for theSatellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.The TCAs nominated her forIndividual Achievement in Dramain 2002, then forComedyat the22nd TCA Awardsin 2006. She also received a Family Television Award,and she won the Teen Choice Award for Parental Unit three times.Alexis Bledel won aYoung Artist Awardfor Best Performance in a TV Drama Series: Leading Young Actress at the22nd Young Artist Awards,twoTeen Choice Awards for Choice TV Actress Comedy,and a Family Television Award.She was also nominated by the Satellite Awards in 2002. Kelly Bishop was twice nominated for theSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television Seriesin 2002 and 2004.

Fandom and cultural impact

Scott Patterson,who playedLuke Danes,at theGilmore Girls15th anniversary reunion

Gilmore Girlsis considered a cult classic, with an "avid following".During the run of the show this was mostly a small but dedicated group, predominantly of females, but its audience has grown steadily since it came off the air.The series experienced a resurgence when it became available on Netflix in October 2014, introducing it to a new generation of viewers.When the revival was announced in 2015, star Lauren Graham credited it to the campaigning and persistence of the fans.At this point, according toThe Washington Post,the show became "a quirky pop culture obsession".The enduring popularity ofGilmore Girlsis considered to come from its comforting quality and cross-generational appeal.It is particularly known as a show that mothers and daughters watch together.

The Gilmore Girls Fan Fest has become an annual event since its inauguration in 2016. The unofficial festival takes place in Connecticut over an October weekend, and includes panels with cast and crew, themed activities, and screenings.For the 16th anniversary of the show, 200 coffee houses around the US and Canada were transformed into "Luke's Diners".For two weeks in winter 2018–19, Warner Bros. added a special feature to their studio tour that recreated the Stars Hollow set and displayed props and costumes from the series.The show has an active fandom, posting ininternet forumsand creating work such asfan fiction.SpecialGilmore Girlstrivia nights have been held at venues in multiple different cities.

TheIrish Independenthas commented that "Even though it preceded social media,Gilmore Girlshas been internet gold for the past few years. Thanks to its snappy one-liners, it's spawned thousands ofmemesthat have introduced theBuzzFeedgeneration to its coffee-swilling, cheeseburger-loving, critically-thinking characters. "The show has been parodied onMad TVandFamily Guy,and featured in an episode ofSix Feet Under.A cocktail bar inBrooklyndevised a menu inspired by the show.Warner Bros. has produced a range ofGilmore Girlsmerchandise, including T-shirts, mugs, and dolls.

Three collections of academic essays that analyze the show have been published:Gilmore Girls and the Politics of Identity(2008);Screwball Television: Critical Perspectives on Gilmore Girls(2010); andGilmore Girls: A Cultural History(2019). In 2002, fouryoung adult novelswere published that adapted scripts from the first and second seasons into novel form, told from Rory'sfirst-person point of view.There have also been several unofficial, fan-based guides to the series, includingCoffee At Luke's: An Unauthorized Gilmore Girls Gab Fest(2007),The Gilmore Girls Companion(2010),You've Been Gilmored!: The Unofficial Encyclopedia and Complete Guide to Gilmore Girls(2020),andBut I'm a Gilmore!: Stories and Experiences of Honorary Gilmore Girls: Cast, Crew, and FansThe program is also the source of a book club, in which followers aim to read all 339 books referenced on the show, and the inspiration for a cookbook calledEat Like a Gilmore.

Gilmore Girlsis the basis for the successful podcastGilmore Guys(2014–2017), which was named byTimeas one of the 50 best podcasts of 2017 – the only television-based inclusion.It follows the hosts, Kevin T. Porter andDemi Adejuyigbe,as they watch every episode of the series. Sadaf Ahsan of theNational Postcommented that it "helped reignite – and, for some, initiate – fan fervour" towardsGilmore Girls.

At theEurovision Song Contest 2024,comedian and hostPetra Medeoffered a DVD of Season 3 of theGilmore Girlsas a bonus prize to complement the winner's trophy.

External links

• Gilmore GirlsatIMDb
• Gilmore GirlsatRotten Tomatoes